Seychelles Dive Travel Planning
Seychelles dive travel is easier than the map suggests: one international airport, short hops between the main islands, and warm water all year. This page covers when to go, how to get there and around, what paperwork you need, and how to fit flying around your dives.
When to dive the Seychelles
The weather follows two monsoon seasons, and the best diving usually falls in the calm weeks between them.
- April to May: one of the two calmest periods. Light winds, flat seas, hot weather and often the best visibility of the year.
- June to September: the south-east trade winds. Cooler, drier and breezier, with rough seas on exposed coasts. Centres switch to sheltered sites, and diving continues.
- October to November: the second calm window, with good visibility. In some years this is the peak of whale shark sightings on the Mahé plateau.
- December to March: the north-west monsoon. Hot, humid and wetter, with short heavy showers and occasional wind from the north-west. Plenty of good diving days between the rain.
The Seychelles lies outside the main cyclone belt, so storms that hit Madagascar and Mauritius rarely reach the Inner Islands, though they can bring swell and wind for a few days. Water stays around 26 to 30 °C all year; our scuba gear for the Seychelles page explains which wetsuit to bring.
Getting to the Seychelles
International flights land at Seychelles International Airport on Mahé, a short drive south of the capital, Victoria. Direct and one-stop routes run through the Gulf, East Africa, Europe and South Asia; most travellers from North America connect through the Gulf or Europe. Book early for school holidays, when seats are limited.
Island hopping
The three main islands are close together, and you can see all of them on one trip.
- Mahé to Praslin by ferry: the fast catamaran from Victoria takes about an hour. Seas can be choppy in the trade wind months, so take seasickness tablets if you need them.
- Mahé to Praslin by plane: domestic flights take about 15 to 20 minutes on small aircraft, with tighter luggage limits.
- Praslin to La Digue: a short ferry crossing of around 15 minutes. There is no airport on La Digue.
- Outer Islands: reached by charter flights to the island resorts, or by liveaboard. Plan these well ahead.
On the islands, you can rent a car on Mahé and Praslin (driving is on the left), use the public buses, or take taxis. La Digue is best explored by bicycle.
Entry requirements
The Seychelles does not require a visa in advance for most visitors; a visitor's permit is issued on arrival. You do need to apply online for a travel authorisation before you fly, and you need a passport with at least six months of validity left that stays valid for your whole stay, a return ticket, proof of accommodation and enough funds for the trip. Requirements and fees change, so check the official Seychelles Electronic Border System before you book, not a third-party agent.
Money, health and practicalities
- Currency: the Seychelles rupee (SCR). Cards are widely accepted at hotels and dive centres; carry rupees for takeaways, buses and markets.
- Language: Seychellois Creole, English and French are all official, and English is used everywhere in tourism.
- Power: British Type G plugs at 240 volts.
- Health: check your own country's travel health advice for vaccinations. Mosquitoes can carry dengue, so use repellent at dawn and dusk.
- Dive insurance: make sure your travel policy covers scuba diving to the depths you plan, or buy specialist dive insurance that covers recompression treatment and evacuation.
Flying after diving
Plan your last dive around your flight home and any domestic flights. The Divers Alert Network recommends a minimum surface interval of 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive, and 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days of diving. Longer intervals are advised after decompression dives. Many divers keep the last day for the beach, a hike on Mahé or a visit to the Vallée de Mai on Praslin.
Putting the trip together
A typical 10 to 14 day trip spends a week on Mahé for the deeper sites, then three or four nights on Praslin or La Digue for the calmer reefs. Start with the Seychelles dive sites you most want to see, pick a base for each island from our accommodations guide, and book your first dives with a Seychelles dive shop before you arrive.
Know where you are going?
Choose the best base on each island for diving, from guesthouses to resorts.